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Recycling or upcycling furniture? Here are some tips for removing stripped screws, headless nails, and busted fasteners
by
David Agrell
(IC: homeowner)
Easy
The Hometalk community is full of creative folks turning ugly, worn out furniture into stylish, attractive pieces. Others are pulling old lumber from dumpsters and reusing it in woodworking projects and remodels -- all of which we heartily endorse! Still, these projects often present some of the most annoying moments in DIY: You're taking something apart and the head of the nail snaps off or the screw strips. It's enough to send that stuff back to the trash heap. Before you do, though, check out some our tricks for removing old hardware. You can read more here: http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/reviews/hand-tools/remove-stripped-screws-headless-nails-and-busted-fasteners-14908338
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Published January 24th, 2013 2:33 PM
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2 of 8 comments
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Diana Dray on Jan 26, 2013When I disassemble pallets I use a sawzall then take a punch with a hammer and pound out the nails.
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Kelly S on Jan 27, 2013For nails I pound them out from the back just enough to get the claw of the hammer under the head and pull it out the front. For molding or trim I pull them through from the back because it causes less damage and leaves a smaller hole. For staples I use my diagnal cutters and pull them out. I don't even mess with broken screws because they are a pain.
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I want to remove my kitchen cabinet doors, but the screws are stripped. How do I get them off without damaging the cabinets themselves?